One-piece egg carton



Dec. 8, 1936. I H. BLAU 2,063,720

ONE-PIECE EGG GARTON Filed April 29', 1935 7 29 BY hwy B/a'u ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ONE-PIECE EGG cm'ron Harry Blau, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application April 29, 1935, Serial No. 18,732

4 Claims. (01. 229-49) The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the inconvenience of inserting fillers in egg cartons when setting up the cartons.

The inventionis a folding egg carton having a filler permanently positioned therein and adapted to be folded-and bent with the carton.

Practically all egg cartons are made so that they may be folded and packed and shipped when folded, and the fillers are shipped separately and when the cartons are'opened and filled with eggs, it is necessary to first set up the carton, and-then place the filler in the carton and then place eggs in the filler. The fillers are generally made of very light flimsy material, and it is very difficult to setthese up and place them in the cartons with any degree of efficiency and, therefore, it is desirable to provide folded egg cartons with fillers already in place so that as soon as the cartons are opened, the fillers are in place and the carton is ready for use.

Some cartons have been provided with fillers permanently positioned therein or attached so that they are supplied and folded with the carton, but in every case it is necessary to fold the rectangular or box-like frame of the carton in which the filler is positioned, midway of the corners, and this is objectionable because it eliminates the stability, and therefore, it is desired to provide an egg carton of the collapsible type having a filler in the box-like frame thereof, in which the frame folds only at the corners and in whichboth sides and'both ends are rigid, so that they form supporting members to hold the carton in position while eggs are being placed there-c in, and'also during handling thereof.

The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide an improvement in egg cartons of the collapsible type and in which fillers are used by constructing the frame or box-like portion in a relatively independen'tunit so that the end of the fillers may be attached to the walls thereof, and so that the walls and-fillers may be collapsed by folding one side parallel to the other, with the ends remaining straight.

Another object is to provide a collapsible filler for egg cartons-in which the-ends of the partitions thereof are secured to the sides and ends of a collapsible,rectangular-shaped frame.

A'furthersobject is to provide a collapsible egg carton of the type having a filler therein in nwhich the frame portion in which the filler is mounted, folds to substantially a flat position with thelbottom, back and cover also folding to a flat position and in combination with the filler or box portion; I I

And a still further object is to provide an egg carton of the type having a filler permanently mounted therein which is adapted to fold without bendingthe sides and ends, which is of a simple and economical construction. 5

With theseends in view the invention embodies an egg carton having a rectangular-shaped or box-like frame open at the top and bottom with a filler permanently positioned therein and in which one side of said frame forms the front of a box with a portion adapted 'to form the bottom of the box extending from the lower edge of the portion forming the front, other portions forming the back, cover and flap extending from the portion forming the bottom, and in which the sides and ends of the frame do not fold.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing the box-like frame supplied as a separate and independent unit and having the filler therein.

Figure 2 is a view showing the frame incorporated in a carton of the 3 x 4 type.

Figure '3 is a similar view showing a carton of the 2 x 6 type.

Figure 4 is a plan view showing a blank from which the carton, shown in Figure 3, is formed without the filler.

Figure 5 is a detail showing a strip of material which forms the back of the frame.

Figure 6 is a detail showing a connection between one end of one of the filler partitions and a side of the box in which the parts are shown in plan. I

Figure 7 is a similar view of a cross section through a part of the carton, and in which the end of the partition is bent at right angles forming a flange, as shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing the partition held by a piece of gummed tape.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the carton shown in Figure 2 folded to a flat position.

Figure 10 is a detail showing a metallic clip for holding the back of the frame to the back of the carton.

Figure 11 is a similar view showing the upper edge of the back of the frame held by a tab formed from the back of the cover.

Figure 12 isa view showing the carton shown in Figure 2 partly folded.

In the drawing the carton is shown as it may be made wherein numeral I indicates the front of a frame, which as shown in Figure 1, may be provided as a separate and independent unit,

and this frame is formed with a back 2 and ends 3 and 4 and a filler is formed on the interior by transverse partitions 5 and longitudinal partitions 6. In this design the frame may be supplied as a separate and independent unit, and the ends of the partitions may be attached to the inner surfaces of the sides and ends, as shown in Figures 6, '7, and 8, and this frame may be folded to the position shown in Figure 12 so that the complete frame may form a box-like filler which may be used with any kind of a cover or as a filler for a box, as this entire frame may be inserted in an egg carton and used similar ,to'

the ordinary filler, however, as the ends of the' partitions are attached to and supported-bythe sides and ends, the entire filler may. readily be, opened and set up; so that it may be used with out danger of the filler collapsingor damaging parts thereof. This frame may be provided, for 3 x 4 egg boxes as shown and it will also be un-' derstood that it may be provided for 2 x 6 containers or for boxes and containers of any type or description. In the design shown in Figures 2 and 3. this frame is incorporated in egg cartons and, in the design shown in Figure 2, the frame is formed with a front section I which is made integral with a bottom 8, a back 9 and a cover 10, and it will be noted that the frame which may be formed by another side member II and end mem.- bers i2 and I3, forms a separate and independent unit, and may be folded at the corners with; the side II parallel to and substantially resting against the side I and with the ends I2 and I3 folded over and also substantially parallel to the side I. When a carton of this typeis folded the frame extends outward at one side, as shown in Figure 9, in which the side II is shown and the end I2 will be directly under this side. The cover II) and back 9 may then be folded on the upper side, as shown, with a flap M at the forward edge of the cover folded under. The carton shown in Figure 3 may be folded in a similar manner and in both designs the fillers fold with the frame,

and as the ends and sides of the frame do not fold intermediate of the ends, the frame willremain substantially stiff, and will be sufiiciently stable to support the carton in the open position. As soon as the carton is set up, the lower end of the frame will be placed upon the bottom 8 and the back will be placed against the member -I I with aclip I5 crimping over the upper edgeofthe member I I, as shown in Figure 10. This will add additional stability to the carton so that itwill be apparently firm and will remain in position while the eggs are being placed therein, or re moved therefrom. When the.-carton;is:-f;ull of eggs, the cover In may be foldedvdown uponythe upper surface and the flap I4 insideof member I; thereby forming a complete carton which will be substantially rigid. The ends of the partition members may be provided with flanges, I6; as shown in Figure 6, and these may be gummed to the inner surfaces of the sides and-ends, or the ends of the partitions may be held" by gummed tape IT, as shown in Figure 8, or. held -in any manner. The upperportions of the, ends .of the partitions may be cut, as shown at the point IS, in Figure '7 to provide clearance atthfe front for the flap I4, and when the box is closed the flap may be inserted; in thisspacebejtween the front and ends of the partitions. It will also be understood that anylocking means; desired may be used.

The clips I5 are preferably made ofa thin'strip of metal, and these may be inserted in slits l9 and 2!) in the back 9 with the lower end of the clip crimped upward, as shown at the point 2I and a, small tab 22 may be punched through the upper end so that it may be erimped down against the inside of the back 9 to hold the clip in place when the carton is open. The clip is inserted in the back with the upper end extending upward and when the box is set up the upper end may be folded downward as indicated by the dotted lines 23 and 2t, shown in Figure 2. These clips may also be formed by punching sections out of openings 26 in the back 9, as shown in'Figure 11, and placing the part 25 over the lipper edge of the back I I. It will also be under- ,.St0od that any means may be provided for securing the back 9 to the part II when the carton is Ff SE11 up.

The respective parts are indicated by the same 1 reference numerals in the design shown in Figure 3, as. every part is exactly the same except that the side members are shorter and the end members longer, however, it will be understood that this carton may be of any shape or size, and may be provided in any manner.

The carton is stamped from a blank, as shown in Figure 4, with the ends I2 and I3 extending from the ends of the member I, and member II may be formed as shown in Figure 5 with extensions 2'! and 28 at the ends adapted to fold on the;lines 29 and 30, and these extensions are gummed to the inner surfaces of the ends I2 and I3, as shown in Figure 3. It will be understood, however, that the back II or any part of the frame may be formed in any manner. The blank, as shown in Figure 4, is provided with a fold line 3I between the members I and 8, another fold line 32 between the members 8 and 9, another fold line 33 between members 9 and Ill and a fold line 34 between the member ID and the flap I l. The device is, therefore, relatively simple and inexpensive, and may formed, shipped and set up in a relatively simple manner.

, It will be understood that changes may be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of the invention. One of which changes may be in the use of other means for forming the frame or box-like portion, another may be in the use of other means for forming the bottom, back and cover or for holding these parts in place, and still another may be in the use of other means forv securing the filler in the frame.

. The construction will be readily understood from the foregoing description. In use the device may be provided as shown and described and when used asa complete carton, the carton with the filler therein may be stamped, folded and set up in the factory and shipped in the flat position as shown in Figure 9. When it arrives at the store or farm where the eggs are placed therein, the carton may be readily opened and set up, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that the eggs may readily be-p1aced in the pockets of the filler and the carton used in the normal manner. *wiHaving thus fully described the invention, what 1: claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An egg carton of the type having a filler permanently positioned therein, comprising a ,-rectangular-shaped homogeneous frame having solid side and end members without folds, creases ,or slits therein, open at the top and bottom, parrtitions forming a filler with the ends permanently mounted in said frame, said frame and filler adapted to be collapsed by folding at the corners only, with one side substantially against the other and with one end extending outward and the other resting upon one of the sides, and in which the ends of the partitions forming the filler stop short of the side forming the front from a point substantially midway of the height of the frame to the top thereof, and a cover extending around the frame.

2. A carton for eggs or the like comprising a rectangular shaped frame with a bottom member extending from one of the sides thereof adapted to be placed across the bottom, a back extending from the edge of said bottom member adapted to be placed against one of the side members of the frame, a cover extending from the upper edge of the back and adapted to be placed across the top of the frame, and a flap adapted to be placed inside of one of the side members of the frame to form a closure, said carton having slits in the portion forming the back and clips mounted in said slits adapted to be crimped over the upper edge of the side of the frame, said frame having cut out portions adapted to receive said clips.

3. The combination with an egg box consisting of a continuous strip of material shaped to conform to a rectangle and in which said strip of material forms the vertical sides thereof, said strip of material folded and creased only at the corners and formed with vertical folds only, and having a filler consisting of longitudinal and transverse strips of material, each of which is secured at the ends to the vertical sides of said box; of a cover formed of a sheet of material} connecting with one of the sides of the box and adapted to extend across the bottom, up the opposite side, over the top, and said part extending over the top having a front flap adapted to extend into the upper side of the box.

4. The combination with an egg box consisting of a continuous strip of material shaped to conform to a rectangle and in which said strip of material forms the vertical sides thereof, said strip of material folded and creased only at the corners and formed with vertical folds only, and having a filler consisting of longitudinal and transverse strips of material, each of which is secured at the ends to the vertical sides of said box; of a cover extending across the bottom, up the back, across the top, and part of the way down the side forming the front, the ends of said cover being open.

HARRY BLAU. 

